Alright, so I'm looking to build an Esper Reanimator deck, with a back-up plan of Thopter-Sword-Sieve and a Salvaging Station package. I'm convinced Sharuum is going to be the best at this due to it's own ability lending itself towards my desired reanimation effect(Magister Sphinx, Wurmcoil, Inkwell, etc). Now my question is, how do I slot the appropriate protection and other utility cards in the deck without over-diluting it? For example, how many counters, removals, sweepers etc should be in here?
And this is where I keep getting stuck. I don't know if I have too many reanimation spells, or not enough targets/too many targets, too much dig, no counterspells, or what. Anyone got any help for a "grave robber" like me?
Thanks for the ideas. I did have a feeling I had too many reanimation targets(and probably a bit heavy on the draw, too). Though, with all due respect, I think an Esper reanimator deck must-include Jin-Gitaxias. If there is no Griselbrand around, he is the next best thing.
Nonetheless, this has given me some good insights into how to craft it better.
Alright. I went back to the drawing board, and this is what I came up with. Admittedly, I am not too confident in this deck's ability(and am looking forward to my Radha theorizied list as being more successful). This is Magic Online, and I'll put in the cards I currently have/would not be too troubling to acquire. It's worth noting that for this league, Crypt, Ring, Vault, Drain, Necro, those kinds of cards are unavailable to players.
Like I said, I'm not completely convinced of this deck's viability as I feel it might have some issues as compared to, say, my Radha deck I also have a list for.
I think I prefer Teneb, the Harvester for reanimation to Sharuum, but that's just personal preference. I think I like him better because I prefer to ramp up and control via killing everything then reanimating their stuff as well as my own.
That being said... I like your list; I would include a Sheoldred, Whispering One (I see that it was in your oprignal list but not the updated one) and maybe a Ashen Powder . Also, what do you think about Wrexial, the Risen Deep ? So you can replay all those Instants/Sorceries that you've countered...
I think I prefer Teneb, the Harvester for reanimation to Sharuum, but that's just personal preference. I think I like him better because I prefer to ramp up and control via killing everything then reanimating their stuff as well as my own.
That being said... I like your list; I would include a Sheoldred, Whispering One (I see that it was in your oprignal list but not the updated one) and maybe a Ashen Powder . Also, what do you think about Wrexial, the Risen Deep ? So you can replay all those Instants/Sorceries that you've countered...
I think the problem with Wrexial is that reanimator wants to be three colour. And with Teneb you can't have Steel Wind Sphinx...
On Sheoldred I think i cut it because I don't have many reanimation targets, so just a 6/6 swampwalk did not feel like it was strong enough.
Also, I think it's a mistake of mine I just noticed there is a distinct lack of Sphinx of Uthuun here...
I am unsure between Zur and Sharuum as they both have their strengths and weaknesses respectively.
Magister Sphinx is a weak target? Because I see him as a two turn clock in this format(or one turn if I do this with Sharuum). Admittedly "Sphinxkroma" is a personal preference as it dodges a surprisingly high amount of removal. The Eldrazi and Inkwell could go though, I think.
As this is not a duel-commander deck, Griselbrand is unavailable for playing with. Tidespout could be decent, but I am unsure if he is any better than Inkwell tbh(at least Inkwell protects itself, has evasion, and is much harder to deal with). I'm not a fan of Serenity much, but that could be my limited play experiences with her. I flat-out don't have an Iona online otherwise she'd be the shoe-in.
Thank you for the suggestions, as they are much appreciated to give me stuff to think about.
I am unsure between Zur and Sharuum as they both have their strengths and weaknesses respectively.
Magister Sphinx is a weak target? Because I see him as a two turn clock in this format(or one turn if I do this with Sharuum). Admittedly "Sphinxkroma" is a personal preference as it dodges a surprisingly high amount of removal. The Eldrazi and Inkwell could go though, I think.
As this is not a duel-commander deck, Griselbrand is unavailable for playing with. Tidespout could be decent, but I am unsure if he is any better than Inkwell tbh(at least Inkwell protects itself, has evasion, and is much harder to deal with). I'm not a fan of Serenity much, but that could be my limited play experiences with her. I flat-out don't have an Iona online otherwise she'd be the shoe-in.
Thank you for the suggestions, as they are much appreciated to give me stuff to think about.
Yes, Sphinx is a weak target. It doesn't affect the board state at all, and the life-change is all too often irrelevant.
Zur is the superior reanimator general under the French Rules, and Sharuum is likely superior under the RC Rules, in the sense that almost all of the decks aren't incredibly tuned and to the level of actually competitive, where a big blowout play is better than incremental advantage.
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Here's the core I keep stumbling on:
1 Sharuum the Hegemon
Targets
1 It That Betrays
1 Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Blazing Archon
1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1 Stormtide Leviathan
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Magister Sphinx
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Grave Titan
1 Sun Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Sculpting Steel
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
Enabler
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Careful Study
1 Ideas Unbound
1 See Beyond
1 Thirst For Knowledge
1 Compulsive Research
1 Forbidden Alchemy
1 Frantic Search
1 Careful Consideration
1 Sphinx of Lost Truths
1 Entomb
1 Buried Alive
1 Reanimate
1 Animate Dead
1 Dance of the Dead
1 Stitch Together
1 Necromancy
1 Dread Return
1 Unburial Rites
1 Makeshift Mannequin
1 Karmic Guide
1 Stifle
1 Duress
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Castigate
1 Trickbind
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Liliana of the Veil
Back-Up
1 Disciple of the Vault
1 Thopter Foundry
1 Sword of the Meek
1 Time Sieve
1 Bitter Ordeal
Utility
1 Chrome Mox
1 Dark Ritual
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Grim Tutor
Removal
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
1 Dismember
1 Pongify
1 Devour in Shadow
And this is where I keep getting stuck. I don't know if I have too many reanimation spells, or not enough targets/too many targets, too much dig, no counterspells, or what. Anyone got any help for a "grave robber" like me?
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Nonetheless, this has given me some good insights into how to craft it better.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
1 Sharuum the Hegemon
1 Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Blazing Archon
1 It That Betrays
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1 Stormtide Leviathan
1 Magister Sphinx
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Sun Titan
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Sunblast Angel (Meta-Decision, Lots of Aggro Around)
1 Stifle
1 Trickbind
1 Duress
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Castigate
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Careful Study
1 Ideas Unbound
1 Frantic Search
1 Careful Consideration
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Compulsive Research
1 Forbidden Alchemy
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Entomb
1 Buried Alive
1 Sphinx of Lost Truths
1 Stinkweed Imp
1 Golgari Thug
1 Reanimate
1 Animate Dead
1 Dance of the Dead
1 Necromancy
1 Unburial Rites
1 Makeshift Mannequin
1 Karmic Guide
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Grim Tutor
1 Dark Ritual
1 Chrome Mox
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
1 Dismember
1 Pongify
1 Devour in Shadow
1 Counterspell
1 Arcane Denial
1 Negate
1 Spell Pierce
1 Remand
1 Miscalculation
1 Damnation
1 Hallowed Burial
1 Day of Judgment
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Thopter Foundry
1 Sword of the Meek
1 Arcane Sanctum
1 City of Brass
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
1 Watery Grave
1 Godless Shrine
1 Mystic Gate
1 Sunken Ruins
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Underground River
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Windswept Heath
1 Marsh Flats
1 Arid Mesa
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Strip Mine
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Academy Ruins
1 Ancient Tomb
1 High Market
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Plains
2 Island
1 Swamp
2 Snow-Covered Plains
2 Snow-Covered Island
2 Snow-Covered Swamp
Like I said, I'm not completely convinced of this deck's viability as I feel it might have some issues as compared to, say, my Radha deck I also have a list for.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
That being said... I like your list; I would include a Sheoldred, Whispering One (I see that it was in your oprignal list but not the updated one) and maybe a Ashen Powder . Also, what do you think about Wrexial, the Risen Deep ? So you can replay all those Instants/Sorceries that you've countered...
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
I think the problem with Wrexial is that reanimator wants to be three colour. And with Teneb you can't have Steel Wind Sphinx...
On Sheoldred I think i cut it because I don't have many reanimation targets, so just a 6/6 swampwalk did not feel like it was strong enough.
Also, I think it's a mistake of mine I just noticed there is a distinct lack of Sphinx of Uthuun here...
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
He either reanimates a creature upon swinging, or gets you Phyrexian Arena / Oblivion Ring / Detention Sphere.
I also think It That Betrays, Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Magister Sphinx, and Inkwell Leviathan are relatively weak reanimator targets.
I would suggest Griselbrand, Iona, Shield of Emeria, Angel of Serenity, and Tidespout Tyrant instead.
I am unsure between Zur and Sharuum as they both have their strengths and weaknesses respectively.
Magister Sphinx is a weak target? Because I see him as a two turn clock in this format(or one turn if I do this with Sharuum). Admittedly "Sphinxkroma" is a personal preference as it dodges a surprisingly high amount of removal. The Eldrazi and Inkwell could go though, I think.
As this is not a duel-commander deck, Griselbrand is unavailable for playing with. Tidespout could be decent, but I am unsure if he is any better than Inkwell tbh(at least Inkwell protects itself, has evasion, and is much harder to deal with). I'm not a fan of Serenity much, but that could be my limited play experiences with her. I flat-out don't have an Iona online otherwise she'd be the shoe-in.
Thank you for the suggestions, as they are much appreciated to give me stuff to think about.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Yes, Sphinx is a weak target. It doesn't affect the board state at all, and the life-change is all too often irrelevant.
Zur is the superior reanimator general under the French Rules, and Sharuum is likely superior under the RC Rules, in the sense that almost all of the decks aren't incredibly tuned and to the level of actually competitive, where a big blowout play is better than incremental advantage.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
Oh yea, that card is pretty insane and under-the-radar. I have it in RL Sygg, but yes, I agree it would be good here as well.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.